A woman who has dedicated her life to helping others was among those honoured at the 'Women Together' event organised by the women’s committee of the Bolton Hindu Forum.

There were talks on diabetes, cervical cancer, wills, as well as dance and drama performances.

The main focus of the day was Hate Crime awareness, which was delivered by DI Charlotte Cadden from Greater Manchester Police, and Samina Khan from Bolton Council.

This is a highly under reported crime in the Asian community in general, and the workshop aimed to give awareness of what Hate Crime is, and how it can be reported. 

Sumatiben Desai was given a lifetime achievement award from Bolton Hindu Forum for all her work in the community over the years.
 

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Sumatiben “Sue” Desai had worked in Royal Bolton Hospital’s Princess Anne Maternity Unit for 25 years and was awarded an MBE in 2008 for services to social care in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. 

The mother-of-three worked in antenatal, neonatal and postnatal, on the wards and ran parent craft classes.

Her job as a link worker also entailed working closely with the community midwifery team and Sure Start midwives. 

She also helped at Pikes Lane Parent Craft Group, based at Pikes Lane Medical Centre, Bolton, which provided women with information on pregnancy and birth, socialising opportunities, and developing support networks in the community.

Since retirement she currently volunteers for Bolton Hospice, Healthwatch, Asian Elders, Bolton Hindu Forum, and has just started her own group called Bolton Multicultural Womens Group, which looks at isolated women in Bolton and supporting them.

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She has over the years completed Counselling Parts 1 and 2 courses, and will at the grand age of 77 be undertaking a Counselling Part 3 course in 2016, to be able to work as a voluntary professional councillor. She has also been invited to the Queens Garden Party in 2017.

Jaya Patel, the new Youth MP for Bolton was also honoured for her achievement.

She is the first Hindu Youth MP in Bolton, and looks to do a lot of work with regards to supporting young people in the town.

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Jaya Patel, 16, who got 3,821 votes, said: “I am going to be focusing on diversity and bringing different cultures, religions and faiths together.
“I also want to bring life skills into school and become a figure head for young people so that they can come and talk to me with their crises and their enjoyments.”

As Youth MP, she will be tasked with finding out the concerns, interests and needs of other young people in Bolton and then will discuss these on a local, regional and national level with the help of Councillors, MPs and other key decision makers.

The event was attended by Councillors Linda Thomas and Susan Haworth, as well as various other women’s groups in Bolton.
Bolton Hindu Women’s Group will be holding similar workshops and events in the near future.